Concept explainers
Earnings Management [LO2] Companies often try to keep accounting earnings growing at a relatively steady pace, thereby avoiding large swings in earnings from period to period. They also try to meet earnings targets. To do so, they use a variety of tactics. The simplest way is to control the timing of accounting revenues and costs, which all firms can do to at least some extent. For example, if earnings are looking too low this quarter, then some accounting costs can be deferred until next quarter. This practice is called earnings management. It is common, and it raises a lot of questions. Why do firms do it? Why are firms even allowed to do it under GAAP? Is it ethical? What are the implications for cash flow and shareholder wealth?
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EBK FUNDAMENTALS OF CORPORATE FINANCE A
- Suppose that as the economy moves through a business cycle, risk premiums also change. For example, in a recession, when people are concerned about their jobs, risk tolerance might be lower and risk premiums might be higher. In a booming economy, tolerance for risk might be higher and premiums lower.a. Would a predictably shifting risk premium such as described here be a violation of the efficient market hypothesis?b. How might a cycle of increasing and decreasing risk premiums create an appearance that stock prices “overreact,” first falling excessively and then seeming to recover?arrow_forwardMaking changes to a firm’s credit policy involves trade-offs. Assuming that all other factors remain constant, which of the following are outcomes expected to result from an increase in a firm’s cash discount? Check all that apply. An increase in the cost of the discounts given An increase in the firm’s bad-debt expenses An increase in the firm’s credit sales, a speeding up of customer payments, and a reduction in the firm’s receivables investment An increase in the creditworthiness of the firm’s customersarrow_forwardWhich of the following is true? Group of answer choices All of the other answers provided are false Solvency refers to how able the company is to pay its liabilities that are due in the next quarter Liquidity refers to how quickly the company can covert its assets into cash A company with greater financial flexiblity would be less able to survive during bad timesarrow_forward
- Which of the following is the most correct? A. In reference to the time value of money, the present value is always labeled as t=1 B. Negative MVAs indicate that a company's executives are managing the expenses well C. Nominal rates, or annual percentage rates, always equal the effective annual rate D. A strong ROE always indicates a strong year for a company E. Firms should generally try to minimize their days' sales outstanding in order to access their receivables at fast rates.arrow_forwardWhich one of the following actions by a financial manager creates an agency problem? Lowering selling prices that will result in increased firm value Agreeing to expand the company at the expense of stockholders' value Borrowing money when doing so creates value for the firm Agreeing to pay management bonuses based on the market value of the firm's stockarrow_forwardWhich of the following is NOT related to (or contributes to) business risk? Remember that a company's activities have an effect on its business risk. Sales price variability. The extent to which operating costs are fixed. Demand variability. O Input price variability. O The extent to which interest rates on the firm's debt fluctuate.arrow_forward
- Which of the following is an example of unsystematic risk? XYZ corp stock price fell when the news of a drop in GDP was released. When the new employment numbers showed the economy is creating more jobs, the stock market rose. ABC Manufacturing stock price falls upon the announcement that they have a parts shortage from their suppliers When news of strong consumer demand was released, proctor and gamble stock price rose The stock market rose at the announcement of higher GDP numbersarrow_forwardWhat does a low ratio in Creditors Turnover Ratio indicate? a. Company collects the money fast from Debtors b. It shows the speed at which the inventory will be converted into sales c. Company is delaying the payment to the creditors d. Company is making the payment to the creditors very promptlyarrow_forwardIf we hold all other factors the same, an increase in interest rates will: a. Decrease the present value of a stream of constant payments we expect to receive. b. Increase the present value of a stream of constant payments we expect to receive. c. Decrease the interest revenue that a company will earn on its funds that it holds in its interest-bearing checking account. d. No impact on how much a company should be willing to pay for factory equipment that is expected to significantly reduce the factory electricity costs.arrow_forward
- Companies often are under pressure to meet or beat Wall Street earnings projections in order to increase stockprices and also to increase the value of stock options. Some resort to earnings management practices to artificiallycreate desired results.Required:Is earnings management always intended to produce higher income? Explain.Companies often voluntarily provide non-GAAP earnings when they announce annual or quarterly earnings.Required:1. What is meant by the term non-GAAP earnings in this context?arrow_forwardanswer these question in just two sentences. a..“If a firm sold some inventory on credit, its current ratio would probably not change much, but its quick ratio would increase.” If it is possible give reason in two sentences. b. In general, it's better to have a low inventory turnover ratio than a high one, as a low ratio indicates that the firm has an adequate stock of inventory relative to sales and thus will not lose sales as a result of running out of stock. If it is false give reason in two sentences. c. “It is appropriate to use the fixed assets turnover ratio to appraise firms' effectiveness in managing their fixed assets if and only if all the firms being compared have the same proportion of fixed assets to total assets.” If you are not agreed with this statement give justification in two sentences.arrow_forwardCompanies often are under pressure to meet or beat Wall Street earnings projections in order to increase stock prices and also to increase the value of stock options. Some resort to earnings management practices to artificially create desired results. Required: Is earnings management always intended to produce higher income? Explain.arrow_forward
- Managerial Accounting: The Cornerstone of Busines...AccountingISBN:9781337115773Author:Maryanne M. Mowen, Don R. Hansen, Dan L. HeitgerPublisher:Cengage Learning